Second Sight Medical Products announced that Palmetto GBA (Jurisdiction JJ) is the latest Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) to provide coverage for the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System (Argus II) and the related surgical procedure. As a result of this decision, coverage for the Argus II will now include Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. This brings the total coverage of the Argus II to 31 states, two territories and the District of Columbia.

“We are pleased that blind individuals with Retinitis Pigmentosa covered by Medicare now have greater access to the Argus II with five of seven MACs nationwide covering Argus II. We continue to work with the few remaining MACs and payers towards the goal of achieving full coverage in the U.S. The significant momentum in this effort reflects recognition of our technology as the standard of care for these blind individuals,” Will McGuire, President and CEO of Second Sight, said in a company news release.

Effective February 26, 2018, Palmetto GBA (Jurisdiction JJ), published a local coverage article on the Argus II placement procedure (0100T). This decision authorizes coverage of Argus II under the Local Coverage Article A53044, when medically necessary, to Medicare beneficiaries in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee.